CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Personnel from a U.S. warship boarded a Venezuelan tuna boat with 9 fishermen whereas it was crusing in Venezuelan waters, Venezuela’s overseas minister stated on Saturday, underlining strained relations with the US.
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Tensions between the 2 nations escalated after U.S. President Donald Trump in August ordered the deployment of warships within the Caribbean, off the coast of the South American nation, citing the battle in opposition to Latin American drug cartels.
Whereas studying an announcement on Saturday, Overseas Minister Yván Gil advised journalists the Venezuelan tuna boat was “illegally and hostilely boarded by a United States Navy destroyer” and 18 armed personnel who remained on the vessel for eight hours, stopping communication and the fishermen’s regular actions. They had been then launched underneath escort by the Venezuelan navy.
The fishing boat had authorization from the Ministry of Fisheries to hold out its work, Gil stated at a press convention, throughout which he offered pictures of the incident.
Together with the assertion, Venezuela’s overseas affairs ministry distributed a brief video, taken, in keeping with the ministry, by the Venezuelan fishermen. Within the video, it’s alleged that a part of the fishing boat, U.S. Navy personnel and the U.S. warship may be seen.
“Those who give the order to carry out such provocations are seeking an incident that would justify a military escalation in the Caribbean,” Gil stated, including that the target is to “persist in their failed policy” of regime change in Venezuela.
Gil stated the incident was “illegal” and “illegitimate” and warned that Venezuela will defend its sovereignty in opposition to any “provocation.”
The Venezuelan overseas minister’s criticism comes days after Trump stated that his nation had attacked a drug-laden vessel and killed 11 individuals on board. Trump stated the vessel had departed from Venezuela and was carrying members of the Tren de Aragua gang, however his administration has not offered any proof to help that declare.
Venezuela accused the US of committing extrajudicial killings. The South American nation’s inside minister, Diosdado Cabello, stated Washington’s model is “a tremendous lie” and recommended that, in keeping with Venezuelan authorities investigations, the incident might be linked to the disappearance of some people in a coastal area of the nation who had no ties to drug trafficking.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of main a cartel to flood the U.S. with medication, and doubled the reward for his seize from $25 million to $50 million.
The U.S. authorities has given no indication that it plans to hold out a floor incursion with the greater than 4,000 troops being deployed within the space.
However the Venezuelan authorities has nonetheless referred to as on its residents to enlist within the militias – armed volunteers – in help of its safety forces within the occasion of a possible incursion. On Saturday, it urged them to go to navy barracks for coaching classes.
Initially Printed: October 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM EDT
